A judge blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area for two weeks, finding no substantial evidence that a “danger of rebellion” is brewing in Illinois.
It’s a victory for Democratic officials who lead the state and city and have traded insults with President Donald Trump about his drive to put troops on the ground in major urban areas.
U.S. District Judge April Perry didn’t lay out details of any order or say what part of the request she was granting as she spoke from the bench in her crowded courtroom.
The lawsuit was filed Monday by Chicago and Illinois to stop the deployments of Illinois and Texas Guard members. Some troops were already at an immigration building in the Chicago suburb of Broadview when Perry heard arguments on Thursday.
The building has been the site of occasional clashes between protesters and agents. Perry said the actions of the Department of Homeland Security are largely rooted in President Donald Trump’s “animus toward Illinois elected officials.” She expressed skepticism of the federal government’s characterization of protests in Broadview.
Chicago and state officials argued that the deployments were unnecessary and illegal, with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker opposing the use of the Guard. According to their court filing, protests at the temporary detention facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Broadview have “never come close to stopping federal immigration enforcement.”
Trump has portrayed Chicago as a lawless “hellhole” despite statistics that show a drop in crime. The Justice Department has indicated the Guard’s mission is to protect federal properties, not to solve crime issues in the city.
The Posse Comitatus Act restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement, yet Trump has indicated a willingness to use military powers under the Insurrection Act if necessary.
Heavy attendance at the hearing led to overflow rooms being opened, and the court's proceedings reflect a growing tension between state governance and federal authority.
